Tag: robotics

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Robotics

E118 Jamie Ellis DePaor, AI Engineer & former Masters Student at Munster Technological University

Welcome to episode E118 of the AI Ireland podcast, the show that explores the applications and research of Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence on the island of Ireland.

Our mission is to increase the use of AI for the benefit of our society, our competitiveness and everyone living in Ireland.

Today’s guest is Jamie Ellis De Paor. A passionate and diligent programmer, Jamie specialises in AI and has a strong track record of delivering successful projects. His in-depth knowledge of AI techniques and tools, combined with his ability to think strategically, allows him to drive innovation and improve business outcomes. Jamie is always eager to take on new challenges and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in AI.

Jamie is nominated in the Best Application of AI in a Student Project category at the 2023 AI Awards for his his research project addressing the challenge of providing training data for indoor robotics by creating a Unity-based semantic segmentation simulator. The project aims to advance indoor autonomous robotics, potentially impacting various industries.

Topics include:

  • Proposing a game engine solution to address the data gap in indoor robotics
  • How humanoid robots are poised to revolutionise daily life
  • Creating a customizable robot simulator based on prior game engine experience
  • Demonstrating potential real-world model training
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AI Ireland offers tailored presentations catering to your industry’s needs, providing invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies. Stay ahead of the curve and equip your organisation with the knowledge it needs to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enlighten your team and stakeholders. Book a presentation today and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry.

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

AI Ireland are excited to unveil our new book, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” which is now accessible for purchase on Amazon. For executives, policy architects, or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Now available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Limited tickets remain for the 2023 AI Awards.

The fifth annual AI Awards takes place on Tuesday November 21st at the Gibson Hotel. This is an exciting opportunity to connect and network with over 200 AI and Data professionals across the island of Ireland and hear from some of the most exciting AI applications across industry and academia spanning 12 award categories.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get your tickets now! Sale ends November 17th but limited tickets remain so head over to aiawards.ie/tickets or Eventbrite to book your seat today!

Categories
News

Best Application of AI in a Student Project: Meet the 2023 Finalists

 

From self-driving cars to virtual assistants, Artificial Intelligence is shaping our daily lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few decades ago. This remarkable technological evolution has led to a surge of interest in studying AI at the university level. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons behind the growing interest in AI education and the myriad of opportunities it offers to students. We will also take a look at this year’s talented individuals who have been selected in the Best Application of AI in a Student Project for the 2023 AI Awards.

High Demand for AI Professionals

The explosive growth of AI technologies has created a high demand for AI professionals. Companies are actively seeking AI specialists to develop algorithms, build machine learning models and apply AI in diverse fields. As a result, students who specialise in AI can expect a robust job market with numerous career prospects. This high demand is a significant factor driving interest in AI education.

Interdisciplinary Nature

AI is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as computer science, mathematics, neuroscience and engineering. This interdisciplinary approach appeals to students with a wide range of interests. Whether you are passionate about mathematics, psychology or software development, AI offers a space where multiple disciplines converge. This broad appeal makes AI a suitable choice for students with varied backgrounds and academic interests.

Ethical and Societal Concerns

The rapid advancement of AI has raised ethical and societal concerns that need to be addressed. Students studying AI at the university level are not only gaining technical expertise, but also exploring the ethical implications of AI. They are poised to become the architects of AI systems that prioritise fairness, transparency and social responsibility, making a positive impact on society.

Diverse Career Opportunities

AI is not limited to one industry or application. Graduates with AI knowledge can find exciting career opportunities in fields such as healthcare (diagnosis and drug discovery), finance (algorithmic trading and risk assessment), marketing (personalised recommendations and customer analysis) and much more. This diversity in career prospects provides students with the flexibility to pursue their interests and adapt to evolving job markets.

Research and Innovation

The field of AI is continuously evolving, with new breakthroughs and discoveries occurring regularly. This dynamic environment encourages students to engage in research and innovation. University programs often provide students with opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI projects, contributing to the advancement of AI technology itself.

Meet the 2023 AI Awards Finalists

Best Application of AI in a Student Project

Balaji Padmanathan, University College Dublin

For his project focusing on optimising electric vehicle charging station locations in Dublin, with the aim of making Dublin more sustainable and serving as a model for global efforts to combat climate change and promote responsible urban development.

Chenyang Lyu, Dublin City University

For his research in addressing limitations in Large Language Models (LLMs) for Question Answering, focusing on integrating semantic and multimodal knowledge utilising his skills in NLP, unsupervised learning, multi-modal AI and mitigating bias in AI models.

Jamie de Paor, Munster Technological University

For his research project addressing the challenge of providing training data for indoor robotics by creating a Unity-based semantic segmentation simulator. The project aims to advance indoor autonomous robotics, potentially impacting various industries.

Lan Wei, University College Dublin

For Epi-AI, an AI-powered tool for automated seizure detection in mouse EEG data, enhancing efficiency and objectivity in epilepsy research. It accelerates drug development and fosters global collaboration, promising advancements in treatment.

The growing interest in studying AI at the university level is a testament to the profound impact that AI is having on our world. Students recognise the transformative potential of AI and are eager to be a part of this revolution.

With high demand for AI professionals, diverse career opportunities and the chance to engage in groundbreaking research, studying AI at university is a choice that promises a bright and intellectually stimulating future. 

As AI continues to shape our world, it’s no surprise that more and more students are choosing to embark on this exciting educational journey.

Book an AI Presentation today

AI Ireland offers tailored presentations catering to your industry’s needs, providing invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies. Stay ahead of the curve and equip your organisation with the knowledge it needs to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enlighten your team and stakeholders. Book a presentation today and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry.

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

AI Ireland are excited to unveil our new book, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” which is now accessible for purchase on Amazon. For executives, policy architects, or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Now available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Get your Tickets Now for the 2023 AI Awards.

The fifth annual AI Awards takes place on Tuesday November 21st at the Gibson Hotel. This is an exciting opportunity to connect and network with over 200 AI and Data professionals across the island of Ireland and hear from some of the most exciting AI applications across industry and academia spanning 12 award categories.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get your discounted Early Bird tickets now! Offer ends October 31st so head over to aiawards.ie/tickets or Eventbrite and enter the discount code EarlyBird_AIA to get your ticket for just €99. Limited tickets available; Original Price €239. 

Categories
News

Tesla’s Optimus: The Future of Automation Unveiled

 

Two weeks ago, Tesla unveiled an exciting update that has the potential to revolutionise the world of automation: the Optimus, affectionately known as the Tesla Bot. Tesla aims to harness this bipedal humanoid robot to tackle dangerous and repetitive tasks currently carried out by human workers in Tesla facilities. The Optimus holds the promise of transforming factory operations and assembly lines, including Tesla’s sprawling gigafactories responsible for producing vehicles, solar panels and batteries.

The Optimus in Action

In a captivating video shared by Tesla, the Optimus is showcased as a machine that seamlessly combines the mechanical with the human. Its arms and legs are adorned with exposed cables, actuators and joints, while its hands and face maintain a smooth, lifelike appearance. What sets this robot apart is its ability to learn tasks by simply observing, thanks to a neural network that operates entirely onboard and relies solely on visual input.

The video demonstrates the Optimus engaging in a real-time interaction with a human partner. For instance, when presented with a table full of coloured blocks, the Optimus patiently waits until the person removes their hands from the blocks before commencing its sorting task. The precision and efficiency with which it carries out its duties are truly remarkable. It even showcases the ability to take corrective actions, ensuring all the blocks face the same direction.

Furthermore, the video suggests that the Optimus can be trained to perform new tasks, highlighting its adaptability and versatility. In one surprising twist, the Optimus is seen gracefully executing a series of yoga poses, mirroring the flexibility and dexterity of a human being.

A Journey of Progress

This recent update marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Optimus. Engineers and enthusiasts got their first glimpse of the robot during Tesla Investor Day back in March, where a working model of the Optimus was featured assembling another Optimus robot. The last live appearance of the Optimus was in September 2022, during that year’s AI Day – an annual event held by Tesla to attract AI and robotics engineers.

In 2022, Elon Musk introduced two versions of the Optimus. The first was an older model capable of independent walking and waving, weighing 161 pounds and equipped with a 2.3kWh battery and third-party actuators. The second model, with a more refined design featuring a metal casing and Tesla-built actuators, could not walk but displayed the ability to wave.

The Progress Continues

The videos from 2022 and 2023 clearly illustrate Tesla’s remarkable progress since the initial announcement of the Optimus during the inaugural AI Day in August 2021. Tesla’s commitment to advancing this technology is evident in their ongoing recruitment efforts, as they seek deep learning, computer vision, motion planning, controls, mechanical and general software engineers to drive the development of the Optimus.

One notable revelation is that Elon Musk has claimed that the Optimus boasts twice the economic output of a human worker. With such impressive potential, it’s no wonder that the world is eagerly anticipating the robot’s commercial availability, which Tesla plans to achieve within the next three to five years.

Behind the Scenes

The brains behind the Optimus reside within Tesla’s Autopilot team, responsible for developing self-driving software for Tesla vehicles. While the Optimus can operate autonomously, the current iteration of Tesla’s vehicle Autopilot system requires active driver supervision.

Tesla’s Autopilot team is renowned for developing neural networks by collecting and analysing data from vehicle cameras. Millions of Tesla vehicles contribute real-time information, which is crucial for object detection and depth estimation. However, one intriguing question remains: how might Tesla leverage data collected from assembly robots on its factory floors, including the likes of Godzilla, the giant robot that manoeuvres car bodies on the paint line, and other specialised robots that perform welding and component installation?

Conclusion

As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of automation with the Optimus, we stand at the threshold of a new era in manufacturing and robotics. With its remarkable ability to learn through visual observation and its potential to tackle a wide range of tasks, the Optimus is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of automation. As we eagerly await its commercial debut, it’s clear that Tesla’s commitment to innovation knows no bounds, and the Optimus may well be a game-changer for industries across the board.

Book an AI Presentation today

AI Ireland offers tailored presentations catering to your industry’s needs, providing invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies. Stay ahead of the curve and equip your organisation with the knowledge it needs to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enlighten your team and stakeholders. Book a presentation today and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry.

Early Bird Tickets Now on Sale for the 2023 AI Awards.

The fifth annual AI Awards takes place on Tuesday November 21st at the Gibson Hotel. This is an exciting opportunity to connect and network with over 200 AI and Data professionals across the island of Ireland and hear from some of the most exciting AI applications across industry and academia spanning 12 award categories.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get your discounted Early Bird tickets now! Head over to aiawards.ie/tickets or Eventbrite and enter the discount code EarlyBird_AIA to get your ticket for just €100. Limited tickets available; Original Price €239. 

Categories
Media

E74 Conor McGinn, CEO at Akara Robotics and Funded Investigator at the ADAPT Centre

Welcome to episode 74 of the AI Ireland podcast, the show that explores the applications and research of Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence on the island of Ireland.

Continue reading “E74 Conor McGinn, CEO at Akara Robotics and Funded Investigator at the ADAPT Centre”
Categories
Professional services

E53 Tom Halton, CEO and Executive Director at HMHmmmmm Ltd.

Welcome to episode 53 of the AI Ireland podcast, the show that explores the applications and research of Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence on the island of Ireland.

Continue reading “E53 Tom Halton, CEO and Executive Director at HMHmmmmm Ltd.”
Categories
News

Seven Winners Revealed at 2019 AI Awards ceremony

Mastercard Labs, SAP and Soapbox Labs were among the winners as the second annual AI Awards took place a jam-packed Gibson Hotel in Dublin.

Continue reading “Seven Winners Revealed at 2019 AI Awards ceremony”